Preventive Dental Care Is Possible With Sedation Dentistry

November 17, 2016

Everyone is afraid of something, and we are well aware that dental anxiety and fear affects many people. Experts estimate that as many as 1 in 5 people avoids going to the dentist because of that anxiety.

And yet, we help people who struggle with dental anxiety almost every day at A Downtown Dental Group. We are able to do this because of our friendly, compassionate staff and by offering dental sedation at our Honolulu dentist office.

We want to help you get the general dentistry you need to keep your mouth healthy.

Schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, Dr. Wilfred Miyasaki or Dr. David Miyasaki, to learn how we can help you like we have helped so many other patients with dental anxiety.

Experienced Care For Patients With Dental Anxiety

No matter what you may think, you are not the only person who feels anxious about coming to the dentist. It’s OK that you feel this way. Our goal is to help you learn to manage those feels so your mouth will stay as healthy as it can be.

In addition to providing high-quality dental care, our staff takes pride in creating a welcoming and safe space for our patients. Our compassion is reflected in the various charitable activities in which we participate and in the personal care we provide to each person who walks through our door.

We offer a range of services that have helped many patients relaxed through a cleaning or other procedure.

▷ Comfort options

Think about the things that help you feel comfortable after a hard day. Having those things nearby can alleviate your stress and allow you to relax.

At A Downtown Dental Group, our focus on comfort does not end when you leave the waiting area. During your treatment, we are happy to provide you with a pillow while you are sitting in the dentist chair. If there is something else we can do to help you relax, please let us know.

▷ Pain-free shots

We never want our patients to be in pain. We also know that many people’s anxiety increases because of needles. Our dentists have a way of administering local anesthetic so you won’t feel anything in the process.

▷ Longer appointments

How can this relieve dental anxiety? It can give you peace of mind. With a longer appointment, you can ask to take a break. You can stop to ask questions at any time. You can receive your dental care in small doses.

This is a reminder that you are in control throughout your treatment. For many patients, just knowing they can take a moment if they start to feel overwhelmed helps them stay more relaxed.

Sedation Dentistry For Anxious Patients

As caring and concerned as our staff is, some patients still need a little help to get the dental care they need.

That’s why we offer two kinds of sedation dentistry at our office. We will discuss the differences in a moment, but first, we want to address how either form of dental sedation can help you.

People experience dental anxiety for a number of reasons, such as:

◆ Fear of pain

◆ Fear of gagging

◆ Fear of needles

◆ Fear of dental equipment

Sedation dentistry helps to address all of those concerns and several others we haven’t mentioned. When you are sedated, you won’t feel any pain, you won’t gag, and you won’t be aware of what equipment is being used.

Nevertheless, you can go home knowing that you did something to improve or maintain your oral health.

For patients with mild anxiety, we may recommend nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide takes effect quickly. You inhale it and start to feel its effects within minutes.

You will continue breathing it throughout your treatment to keep you calm. At the end, we simply turn off the gas. You breathe out any remaining nitrous oxide. Before long, you are back to feeling like yourself.

If you have severe anxiety, oral sedation may be a better option. Oral sedation involves taking a pill prior to your appointment. You should have someone drive you to the home and drive you home afterward.

The effects of oral sedation can last for hours, and you may not have any memory of your treatment at all. Yet, you will still receive all the benefits of our top-notch dental care.

Learn More About Managing Dental Anxiety

The staff at A Downtown Dental Group is on your side. We will do whatever we can to make your dental care easier.